Question

An essay on " an experience that demonstrated how labour-saving devices can be more trouble than they worth "

Answer 1

Science has advanced to such an extent that man's labour has reduced considerably. Now every thing is automatic. You select the function you want on a device and wait a stipulated length of time and you get it done. The advantage is that while waiting for it you can do another task. Everything is so easy. But then is it always?

Here is an experience of one of my friend Lisa. She was very happy that she could buy a front loading automatic washing machine. While most of us owned the top loading semi-automatic ones, she could afford a fully automatic front loading one. It was back in 1984. Back then you connect the machine to a water tap, load your clothes and switch on the power and go about your business. After 45 minuted or so you get spin dried clothes. But then there was a problem. Once you switch on the machine, you can't open till all the functions are over. (Now the things have changed, I believe).

So one day my friend loaded her washing machine, put the soap powder in the compartment meant for it and switched it on. After 35 minutes the power went off. The local transformer had blown up. The washing machine had just started the 'rinse' function. The machine could not be opened before all the functions were over.

As it happened, the repair of the transformer took two days. Once the power returned, the machine completed its task. But when it was opened the clothes were stinking to hell. Two days in the dirty soap water had made it stink. Poor Lisa had to wash the clothes many times before she could use them.  

So the labour-saving washing machine turned out to be a bane instead of boon. This is not a solitary incident. There are times when these 'wonder machines' put us in trouble. All the same, these automatic and speedy devices often help us to do a lot of things in very less time.